Central Locking Dead :o(

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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
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Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Hi all,

Have a slight prob with the Zed in that the central locking went completely deadoed yesterday :( It worked fine when I left for work yesterday morning but when I arrived at work the car wouldn't lock using the keyfob. I have to lock the doors individually and the boot :( unfortunately can't lock the fuel flap. Have replaced the battery in the keyfob but wasn't really expecting it to be that. Will check the fuses later. Can I assume as the central locking isn't working at all that its not the solenoids/door actuators? My gut feeling as I opened the boot that morning that the wiring loom from the wing to boot is the culprit and has fractured. I've e-mailed BM Miniparts for a quote for the repair wiring set and will probably just bite the bullet and get the loom replaced, I take it its item 1 in the parts diagram and there is nothing else to add to it,

http://www.bmminiparts.com/DiagramView. ... MOSP=48078

Cheers,

Tim.
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Brian H
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Brian H »

Tim,

As you have said check the fuses first, if the boot loom has failed this could/should have blown the fuse.
TitanTim wrote:.... Can I assume as the central locking isn't working at all that its not the solenoids/door actuators? .....

Cheers,

Tim.
Yes, I would assume this too.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Brian H wrote:Tim,

As you have said check the fuses first, if the boot loom has failed this could/should have blown the fuse.
TitanTim wrote:.... Can I assume as the central locking isn't working at all that its not the solenoids/door actuators? .....

Cheers,

Tim.
Yes, I would assume this too.
Thanks Brian, have checked the central locking fuses of which there are 3 :) and fuse No.7 has blown which is a 5Amp, the other 2 fuses are OK. Thought I would replace it and as soon as it went into its slot it blew :?

I've had a look at the boot wiring, haven't stripped it as haven't had time today and going dark but when I pinch the wiring loom where it kinks near the boot lid it feels a bit crunchy for the want of a better word, not what I would expect, so I'm reckoning some of the copper wires have fractured at this point.

The central locking stopped working about 2 years ago but only for a day and also the boot light stopped working. I checked the fuse and bulb and were OK but I'm guessing the wiring loom also feeds the boot light? Haven't checked the boot brake light but will do this.

Tim.
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Jonco
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Jonco »

If the boot wiring loom has come out of the retaining clip where it enters the boot then it is highly likely that the hinge has acted as a rather blunt guillotine - hence `crunchy' feel. Our remote central locking was still working but very erratic on passenger door - when I opened up the sheath in the boot to do continuity checks (Aceman's suggestion) 2 cores just pulled apart. I initially did a temp repair with block connectors to testand once proven changed these to crimped connectors. I was told to solder these but the access and my skill level is not too good. Has been ok for over 12 months now.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Jonco wrote:If the boot wiring loom has come out of the retaining clip where it enters the boot then it is highly likely that the hinge has acted as a rather blunt guillotine - hence `crunchy' feel. Our remote central locking was still working but very erratic on passenger door - when I opened up the sheath in the boot to do continuity checks (Aceman's suggestion) 2 cores just pulled apart. I initially did a temp repair with block connectors to testand once proven changed these to crimped connectors. I was told to solder these but the access and my skill level is not too good. Has been ok for over 12 months now.
Thanks Jonco, the loom is in its retaining clip OK, I think there is more likely to be a break where the loom goes into the boot lid

Image

When you look at the loom when the boot is open at the top in the pic it looks nice and straight but when you close the bootlid the loom folds back on itself, so doing that over 11 years its bound to break, daft idea routing the wiring that way :roll:

Have ordered a new loom and will get it swapped out. Hope it is that thats causing the problem :lol:

Tim.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Wiring loom from BM miniparts is......wait for it £120.17 :shock: :lol:

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

TitanTim wrote:Wiring loom from BM miniparts is......wait for it £120.17 :shock: :lol:
Yes, that's why most people opt to repair rather than replace. It also looks like an absolute **** to replace (insert expletive of your choice).

Cheers R.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Robert T wrote:
TitanTim wrote:Wiring loom from BM miniparts is......wait for it £120.17 :shock: :lol:
Yes, that's why most people opt to repair rather than replace. It also looks like an absolute **** to replace (insert expletive of your choice).

Cheers R.
I didn't fancy a repair to be honest especially on wiring looms, potential fire risk springs to mind. I would imagine (hope) there is enough cable that simply pulls out in order to connect the terminals etc. I think the loom I have ordered is a BMW repair one unsure if its modified as they knew it was a design floor, in which case it must be a doeable replacement job for them to produce a new repair loom.

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

Well all I can say is good luck! Reading the TIS, it says that the wiring harness does not have a point of connection, so it must be removed from the boot lid to swap the boot lid. This implies that the repair kit will have to be spliced into the loom, as there is no connector to unplug it from!!! I was looking to see if I could find the official repair instructions, but sadly I can't find them.

As for risk of fire... everything on the Z3 barring the battery connections themselves has a fuse, so if you do get a short, the fuse will blow long before the wiring harness goes up in smoke.

Cheers R.
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Brian H
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Brian H »

I would not be surprised if the repair loom had a new set of connectors, one which you splice on to your existing loom, the other on the new loom to allow connection. Can you take some pics please Tim to let us see the repair kit?
wonderloaf
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by wonderloaf »

I'll be following this thread with interest, as today my central locking also stopped responding as well...spooky, could it be something to do with the weather?
A quick open and close of the boot lid seemed to do the trick, but I'm still slightly concerned!
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Jonco
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Jonco »

Wonderloaf - refer to my earlier comment on boot clip and hinge - we had the same symptoms where opening closing boot seemed to either create or reset problem. Took awhile for the penny to drop before I found exact cause.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Robert T wrote:Well all I can say is good luck! Reading the TIS, it says that the wiring harness does not have a point of connection, so it must be removed from the boot lid to swap the boot lid. This implies that the repair kit will have to be spliced into the loom, as there is no connector to unplug it from!!! I was looking to see if I could find the official repair instructions, but sadly I can't find them.

As for risk of fire... everything on the Z3 barring the battery connections themselves has a fuse, so if you do get a short, the fuse will blow long before the wiring harness goes up in smoke.

Cheers R.
Thanks Robert, if you look at the repair loom diagram on BM miniparts website the replacement loom looks to have a number of connectors on the loom ends which implies it splices or connects onto the existing boot loom. As its termed as a Repair loom I can't see any other way apart from connecting to the existing wiring. Your probably correct in that the existing loom is probably one length of cables with no connectors but hopefully there will be enough slack to pull out to provide a connection point.

Take what you say about the fuse as mine has blown so no current danger however I'm sure I have seen pics on here where the loom has burnt out? :shock:

Interestingly a bit of googling picks up this problem on the 3 series, looks like BMW used the same loom and method feeding it into the boot lid and it kinking and causing the same problems.

Tim.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Brian H wrote:I would not be surprised if the repair loom had a new set of connectors, one which you splice on to your existing loom, the other on the new loom to allow connection. Can you take some pics please Tim to let us see the repair kit?
From looking at the pic of loom diagram on BM Miniparts I think your correct Brian. Will take some pics when it arrives.

I'm just unsure whether to get my trusty BMW to do the work or an Auto electrician :? I'm not great with electrical wiring :oops:

Tim.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

wonderloaf wrote:I'll be following this thread with interest, as today my central locking also stopped responding as well...spooky, could it be something to do with the weather?
A quick open and close of the boot lid seemed to do the trick, but I'm still slightly concerned!
Out of interest did all the central locking stop working or just one door etc? Mine did this as you say it stopped responding but righted itself, but I just think its the start of the enivitable and eventually the the boot loom will just fail :( When using the Zed I tend to open the boot everytime so its just makes the chances of the loom failing sooner rather than later :(

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

Part #1 below.

Image
Various additional wiring harnesses - BMW parts catalog

Looking at the photos on BMMiniParts, although I can't find the exact part number above, the repair kit includes a cable with a large connector on one end and a multitude of smaller connectors on the other end(s), as well as a bag containing crimp pins and a bare connector case. The implication of this is that you must cut your entire wiring harness in two just south of the grommet in the body and crimp on pins for each and every wire in the harness. You then have the job of threading the new loom piece through the inside of the boot lid (welded closed for the most part) to mate up with the boot lock actuator, microswitch and third brakelight.

If you do have a link to the correct part on BMMiniParts, then please do post it. I'd like to see just how many wires you are going to have to cut.

Cheers R.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Thanks Robert, this is the part no.


23/03/1998

N/A

8385924

REPAIR WIRING SET FOR TRUNK LID

It looks to be a different part no from the link you posted to the photo on the Miniparts website, not sure if its the same loom or not?

Think when I get the repair kit I will just book the Zed into the dealer, I don't know if BMW produced a repair bulletin for the techo to work off. I imagine at the factory the wiring was simply fed through the respective apertures for brake light, boot lock etc and through the boot.

End of the day it will have to be done one way or another as I imagine the brake light will fail sooner or later and MOT failure :(

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

Well that was the part number I was looking for, and it is the part number from my BMWFans link, but I get no results when I type it in. :?

The part I linked to on BMMiniParts was actually one for an X5, as I couldn't find the Z3 one. Could you post me a link to the picture/page you are looking at.

Cheers R.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Robert T wrote:Well that was the part number I was looking for, and it is the part number from my BMWFans link, but I get no results when I type it in. :?

The part I linked to on BMMiniParts was actually one for an X5, as I couldn't find the Z3 one. Could you post me a link to the picture/page you are looking at.

Cheers R.
Linky :)

http://www.bmminiparts.com/DiagramView. ... MOSP=48078

Scroll down for part no's

Cheers,

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

Look remarkably identical to the picture I posted above. :lol:

I was hoping you had a photo - they only seem to have them for in stock parts - I guess if you just bought the last one, it is no longer in stock. :wink:

Cheers R.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Robert T wrote:Look remarkably identical to the picture I posted above. :lol:

I was hoping you had a photo - they only seem to have them for in stock parts - I guess if you just bought the last one, it is no longer in stock. :wink:

Cheers R.
I thought that lol I think it is the same pic that's been used. Not sure on the stock availability as when I ordered it didn't indicate that any were in stock but the order has been accepted and processed for courier delivery. I'm guessing the dealer would be able to get it anyways.

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

Post a pic when it arrives. :wink:

Cheers R.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Robert T wrote:Post a pic when it arrives. :wink:

Cheers R.
Will do, as I'm not going to fit this myself :oops: would you go for a BMW dealer, independent BMW specialist or an auto electrician :?

Tim.
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Robert T
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Robert T »

I'd do it myself and enjoy it. :D

Pick the one you trust. And get a price first.

Cheers R.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

Robert T wrote:I'd do it myself and enjoy it. :D

Pick the one you trust. And get a price first.

Cheers R.
I'm a tad jittery with electrics and plumbing :)

Will ask my dealer as they've always worked on the Zed.

Tim.
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Trevsky
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by Trevsky »

The boot tidy on your boot lid looks good. Any details of where these can be obtained?
Thanks
TitanTim wrote:
Jonco wrote:If the boot wiring loom has come out of the retaining clip where it enters the boot then it is highly likely that the hinge has acted as a rather blunt guillotine - hence `crunchy' feel. Our remote central locking was still working but very erratic on passenger door - when I opened up the sheath in the boot to do continuity checks (Aceman's suggestion) 2 cores just pulled apart. I initially did a temp repair with block connectors to testand once proven changed these to crimped connectors. I was told to solder these but the access and my skill level is not too good. Has been ok for over 12 months now.
Thanks Jonco, the loom is in its retaining clip OK, I think there is more likely to be a break where the loom goes into the boot lid

Image

When you look at the loom when the boot is open at the top in the pic it looks nice and straight but when you close the bootlid the loom folds back on itself, so doing that over 11 years its bound to break, daft idea routing the wiring that way :roll:

Have ordered a new loom and will get it swapped out. Hope it is that thats causing the problem :lol:

Tim.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

I bought the boot tidy from Roadster Solutions,

http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page4.html

Cheers,

Tim.
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TitanTim
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Re: Central Locking Dead :o(

Post by TitanTim »

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